Is a single mothers benifits enough

pipkin71

I'm a single parent with two children, and I would say you can live extremely well on benefits. My children have lots of luxuries, a few holidays each year, new clothes, day trips out, dance clubs, swimming club, etc.

I would say though, that it is how you manage your benefits that is the key.

affordmylife

pipkin my husband and I both work full time and we do not have luxuries certainly not a few holidays a year,

people who work pay tax in order for you to have holidays clothes clubs etc. my children dont have those things and that doesnt seem fair to me.

benefits should only be bear minimum to survive on. no one would want to come off benefits with your lifestyle. are you a troll?

pipkin71

affordmylife wrote: »

pipkin my husband and I both work full time and we do not have luxuries certainly not a few holidays a year,

people who work pay tax in order for you to have holidays clothes clubs etc. my children dont have those things and that doesnt seem fair to me.

benefits should only be bear minimum to survive on. no one would want to come off benefits with your lifestyle. are you a troll?

Not at all affordmylife.

The OP asked should she be able to live reasonably well or is her benifits only just enough to survive on - referring to a single mother on benefits. I answered that I live reasonably well as a single mother on benefits. I don't know what your circumstances are, nor your overheads [mortgage/rent, running a car, council tax, etc], but I don't have those issues, so yes, we are able to go on holidays, day trips etc.

I would love to come off benefits but am not in a position to do so. I didn't set out to be a single parent, but I am. Therefore, rather than complain about what I get, I am very grateful for it, and use the money I have to ensure my children have a reasonably good quality of life.

With regard the reference to being a 'troll', do you not think that word is bandied about on this forum all too often?

Pipkin xxxx

Bogof_Babe

I would be very interested if anyone would care to put actual figures on these benefits that they are receiving. I notice not one poster has so far.

It makes me wonder whether they are too generous, if certain single mums can afford all that they claim (no pun intended) to.

How about a few hard facts and figures folks. Given that single mums presumably get housing and council tax paid, plus free medical/dental care and free school dinners for their child/ren, how much extra cash is on the table?

I would say something like £75 per week for mum + 1 child, £100 for mum +2, would be reasonable. Anything beyond that is funding luxuries that working (i.e. taxpaying) folk possibly cannot afford.

affordmylife

sorry pipkin just a pet hate of mine. i dont know your circumstances and I apologise for being rude.

I have been on benefits with two boys and i couldnt afford to do anything but feed them and clothe them.

We do have a mortgage and bills etc but we still only manage a midweek break once a year but good luck to you with you and your two

pipkin71

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

I would be very interested if anyone would care to put actual figures on these benefits that they are receiving. I notice not one poster has so far.

It makes me wonder whether they are too generous, if certain single mums can afford all that they claim (no pun intended) to.

How about a few hard facts and figures folks. Given that single mums presumably get housing and council tax paid, plus free medical/dental care and free school dinners for their child/ren, how much extra cash is on the table?

I would say something like £75 per week for mum + 1 child, £100 for mum +2, would be reasonable. Anything beyond that is funding luxuries that working (i.e. taxpaying) folk possibly cannot afford.

With council tax benefits and housing benefit taken into account, I would need to earn £300 per week after tax to be better off working than I am on benefits, and that's with two children.

tanith

Pipkin well done for managing to have a reasonable life while on benefits, I wish I knew your secret as my daughter struggles to maintain herself and children on benefits, she doesn't smoke or drink but tries to eat healthily, clothes are as and when necessary, days out are usually courtesy of me and holidays are certainly out of the question. I don't like seeing her struggle but choices she made mean she is a single parent and has to manage as best she can on the benefits she is entitled to as such... maybe you should start a thread with tips on how its done...

I truly would like to know how its done.... and I could pass on the tips...

affordmylife

Thats where the fault lies to have to earn £300 to be better off is impossible for most. The things is you have to get the job then claim the top up benefits. You still get help with council tax and child care etc and when kids go to full time school you pick up extra hours until you dont need benefit anymore hopefully.

pipkin71

affordmylife wrote: »

sorry pipkin just a pet hate of mine. i dont know your circumstances and I apologise for being rude.

I have been on benefits with two boys and i couldnt afford to do anything but feed them and clothe them.

We do have a mortgage and bills etc but we still only manage a midweek break once a year but good luck to you with you and your two

No worries affordmylife.

I sometimes see people with two cars, living in a nice area, going skiing to Switzerland because they can, and think they're lucky - but I don't know their circumstances. I guess I have learnt to be happy with what I have.

We go on four - sometimes five holidays a year, but they don't cost a fortune. Gingerbread run cut price holidays. The sun holidays are great for us, and there's a charity where we live that gives you £50 for the first child and £30 for each child after, to ensure the children of single parents don't miss out on holidays. You have to provide them with proof of benefits and your holiday booking forms, and they pay this once a year. Our October holiday is with the sun and has cost £70.

RubyShoes

Benefits for a single parents with one child are currently approx:
£59.15 per week Income Support
£50 per week CTC (£40 if baby over 1)
£18.10 CHB
£10 maintainance if recieved from father.

Council Tax Benefit on a band A property could be approx £800 per year, minus the single occupancy (So say £600 per year)
Housing Benefit varies area to area, where I am its up to £99 per week for a single mum with one child in a 2 bed house.

Pipkin, I dont know where you get those figures from, but they are TOTALLY wrong. You do not need to earn more than minimum wage in order to be 'better off'.

Example: Single parent, on minimum wage, working 40 hours per week. 2 children, childcare costs £150 per week, rent £125 per week, Council Tax £800 per year.
A simple calculation shows:
Min Wage at 40hrs per week £5.35 x 40 = £214 per week.
Tax Credits £237.40 per week
Child Benefit £30.20 per week
Housing Benefit £67.72
Council Tax Benefit £0

Total income per week after tax deducted is £516.78


Plus you get to keep ALL maintanence recieved off the childrens father if he pay's. Its not counted as income.

In addition to the above figures there are incapacity, and disability benefits, which I have not included in either examples.